NBA on NBC
During the debut of NBA on NBC, the first time the NBA has been broadcast on the network in 23 years (a certainly relevant number in basketball lore), the network debuted its season-long interview series with the legendary Michael Jordan, “Insights in Excellence.”
In one of the clips NBC aired, Michael Jordan told a story of taking a free throw in front of the owner of a house he had rented to attend the Ryder Cup.
As MJ told it, the house’s owner had grandkids and stopped by to take some pictures when he asked the basketball icon to take a free throw for them.
According to Jordan, the pressure came to living up to his own legend and the version of himself from 30 years ago that the young kids had been told about. Adding to that stress was the fact that Jordan, 62 years old, had literally not touched a basketball in years.
Video surfaces of the free throw that Michael Jordan said made him more nervous than he’s been in “years”
“I was at the Ryder Cup,” Jordan explained. “And I rented a house from the owner. He came over to do pictures. He had grandkids. And I was meet and greet, thanked him for allowing me to stay in the house. And he had a basketball court. He said, ‘I want you to shoot one free throw.’ I said, ‘Really?’
“Now I had already paid for the house. … So, when I stepped up to shoot the free throw, that’s the most nervous I’ve been in years. In years. The reason being is those kids heard the stories from the parents about what I did 30 years ago. So, their expectation is 30 years prior, and I haven’t touched a basketball.”
Lo and behold, less than two days after the clip of Jordan’s told hit the airwaves, video of the very moment hit the internet, verifying everything Jordan said (not that anyone doubted him, unlike another Mt. Rushmore NBA superstar).
Michael Jordan’s story that he told @miketirico is 100% legit. Here’s the original video of it.@NBA @NBAonNBC @espn @SportsCenter @ESPNNBA @CourtsideBuzzX @Ballislife @LegionHoops @TheDunkCentral @JordanMuse_ @HoHighlights https://t.co/eUxUMJvKdP pic.twitter.com/9YVa5RMOlj
— Adam Gilbert (@MyBodyTutor) October 22, 2025
While it’s unclear how many appearances MJ will make on the NBA on NBC throughout the season, his first interview certainly left basketball fans eager for more.